The prevalence and clinical significance of alexithymia in restless legs syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: Alexithymia, characterised by difficulties in identifying and expressing emotions, has been associated with various neurological and psychiatric disorders, but its prevalence and clinical impact in Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) remain insufficiently characterised. This study aimed to explore the relationship between alexithymia and RLS, with particular focus on the association between alexithymia and the perception and severity of RLS symptoms. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 81 RLS patients (24 males, 57 females; mean age 51.91 years). Alexithymia was assessed with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) and disease severity with the RLS Severity Rating Scale (RLS-SRS). Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were applied. Results: Definite alexithymia (TAS-20 ≥ 61) was present in 54.3% of patients. No significant correlation was found between TAS-20 and RLS-SRS scores (r = 0.150; p = 0.182). Education level was the only variable significantly associated with TAS-20 scores (r = −0.451; p < 0.001). Gender and age had no significant effect on either alexithymia or RLS severity. Conclusion: Alexithymia is highly prevalent in RLS patients but does not correlate directly with symptom severity. These findings suggest that emotional processing difficulties represent a clinically significant but severity-independent burden in RLS. Incorporating alexithymia screening and psychological support into RLS management may warrant consideration, although this potential benefit should be confirmed in controlled, longitudinal studies before it can be recommended for routine practice.

Keywords

• Restless Legs Syndrome
• Affective Symptoms
• Emotional Regulation
• Alexithymia

Huzursuz bacak sendromunda aleksitiminin prevalansı ve klinik önemi

Abstract

Amaç: Duyguları tanımlama ve ifade etmede güçlükle karakterize bir durum olan aleksitimi, çeşitli nörolojik ve psikiyatrik bozukluklarla ilişkilendirilmiştir; ancak Huzursuz Bacak Sendromu'ndaki (HBS) prevalansı ve klinik etkisi yeterince aydınlatılmamıştır. Bu çalışma, aleksitimi ile HBS arasındaki ilişkiyi, özellikle aleksitiminin HBS semptomlarının algılanması ve şiddeti ile ilişkisine odaklanarak araştırmayı amaçlamıştır. Yöntem: Bu kesitsel çalışma, 81 HBS hastası (24 erkek, 57 kadın; ortalama yaş 51.91) ile yürütülmüştür. Aleksitimi, Toronto Aleksitimi Ölçeği-20 (TAS-20) ile; hastalık şiddeti ise HBS Şiddet Değerlendirme Ölçeği (HBS-ŞDÖ) ile değerlendirilmiştir. Tanımlayıcı istatistikler ve korelasyon analizleri uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: Kesin aleksitimi (TAS-20 ≥ 61) hastaların %54.3'ünde saptanmıştır. TAS-20 ile HBS-ŞDÖ puanları arasında anlamlı bir korelasyon bulunmamıştır (r = 0.150; p = 0.182). Eğitim düzeyi, TAS-20 puanlarıyla anlamlı ilişki gösteren tek değişken olarak saptanmıştır (r = −0.451; p < 0.001). Cinsiyet ve yaşın ne aleksitimi ne de HBS şiddeti üzerinde anlamlı bir etkisi bulunmamıştır. Sonuç: Aleksitimi, HBS hastalarında oldukça yaygındır ancak semptom şiddetiyle doğrudan ilişkili değildir. Bu bulgular, duygusal işleme güçlüklerinin HBS'de şiddetten bağımsız ancak klinik açıdan önemli bir yük oluşturduğunu düşündürmektedir. HBS yönetimine aleksitimi taramasının ve psikolojik desteğin dahil edilmesi değerlendirilebilir; ancak bu potansiyel yararın rutin uygulamaya önerilebilmesi için kontrol gruplu, ileriye dönük çalışmalarla doğrulanması gerekmektedir.

Keywords

• Huzursuz Bacaklar Sendromu
• Duygusal Düzenleme
• Aleksitimi
• Affektif Semptomlar

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